Mine car



H. P. FIELD AprilV 14, 1936.

MINE CAR Filed March 19, 1931 l TORNEY 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 HHHWHHH- H. P.FILD l 2,037,374 1 A April 14, 1936.

MINE CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1931 on Y M m ,N llll 1 1tHlH-- @n m S wf m m1 /1//7 .S l w\ l@ Ll .Mi ww IH. P. FIELD l Apiil14, 1936.

MINE CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet l5 Filed March l9, 1931 Patented Apr. 14, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MINE CAR Application March 19,

29 Claims.

This invention relates to mine cars and has for one object the provisionof a mine car of low height and extreme lading capacity.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an end dump minecar in which the axles are arranged below the car body, and which bodyis of low height and has an extreme lading capacity.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a miney carwhich is devoid of the usual i type of body sills, but inwhich the bodyis stiffened both longitudinally and transversely to provide a strongand durable construction.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a mine car bodyWhich is devoid of the usual type of longitudinal sills, but which isstiiiened by longitudinally arranged members projecting into the ladingzone of the body, said membersr carrying the load and being so formedas-to offer substantially no obstruction to the free discharge of thelading when the car is tilted for dumping.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a mine car`having a body formed of a bottom plate extending from side to side ofthe car body and having vertical side Walls secured thereto; the bodyresting upon and being supported by car axles and having its bottomstiifened and reinforced by longitudinal members secured t-o the bottomand extending into the lading zone of the body.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a car body,the bottom of which is reinforced and stiffened by longitudinallyarranged bulb angles extending into the lading zone of the body.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a mine car having abody resting on and supported by car axles, the body comprising a bottomextending from side to side and having vertical side Walls securedthereto; the bottom -including longitudinally extending side oorportions and an intermediate portion therebetween and said bottom beingstiffened by a pair of spaced longitudinally arranged bulb anglesarranged substantially at the juncture of the intermediate portion andsaid side oor portions and extending. or projecting into the lading zoneof the body.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure l is a sectional view through one end of the car of the presentinvention.

Fig. 2. is aside elevation f the end.- Opposite that sho-Wnln Fig. l.

1931, Serial No. 523,785

Fig. 3` is an end elevation of the car. Fig. 4 is a sectional view onthe line 4 4, Fig. 5,

and Y Fig. 5 is a fragmentary topplan view of the car, the view beingtaken on the line 5 5, Fig. 1, and also showing, lragmentarily,y aportion of the opposite end of the car.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings. in which similarcharacters of reference designate similar parts in the several views,the car of the present invention comprises a body indicated generally atA, Which rests directly on and is supported by spaced axles 2 whichlatter, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, are substantially square incross section and extend through axle brackets 4 which are secured tothe car body as hereinafter fully described. The axles are provided attheir ends with spindles (not shown) upon which the Wheels 6 are mountedfor rotation.

Low height cars with lading capacities as large as possible are desiredby mine operators. Mine cars in which the axles extend transverselythrough the lading zone of the bodies have been provided, but thenecessary axle housings offer obstruction to end dumping of the lading.Further, in cars of this type which include a bottom having a centralfloor portion and flare sheets on each side thereof which extend eitherabove the Wheels or in a plane intersecting the top portions of thewheels, the said are sheets, which may be arranged at an angle Withinthe angle of repose to constitute side oor portions which positivelysupport a portion of the lading, are usually arranged at an elevationabove that of the central floor portion thereby reducing the ladingcapacity of the car, as will be obvious. This results because of the useof the usual type of body sills, such as Z bars or channels, forexample, to the respective flanges of which the central oor portion andflare sheets or side floor portions are secured. The present inventioneliminates the use of these usual type body sills such as just describedand provides a body having longitudinally extending body stieningelements secured to the bottom of the body interiorly thereof and pref-45 erably on the upper surface of the bottom and arranged to projectinto the'lading zone of the body and to extend from end to end of thelatter; these stiieners possessing sill functions in that they carry theload, but being so arranged that the poroor portion than is present orpossible in cars V of this type now in use. This construction, it willbe obvious, results in an increased lading capacity of the car, the sidefloor portions gradually sloping upwardly from the central floorportion.

As clearly shown in the drawings, the body A of the present inventioncomprises a bottom B. The drawings, which are for illustrative purposesonly, show this bottom as formed of a single piece of metal extendingfrom side to side and having its side edges upwardly anged as at Il) toprovide attaching portions for the side walls I2. The bottom B, withinthe spirit of this invention, may of course be formed of several partsconnected together by suitable fasteners. In the instance shown,however, the bottom comprises an intermediate portion I4 arranged in asubstantially horizontal plane resting on and supported by the axles 2,and side floorportions I6, which slope upwardly from the intermediateportion I4 and which intersect the plane through the upper part of thewheels 6, the angle of slope of these side floor portions I6 being wellwithin the angle of repose thereby furnishing positive supportingsurfaces for the lading in the car. The present construction provides acar in which the side floor portions I6 may intersect the plane of thehubs I8 ol' the wheels, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and this, it will beobvious, provides a car in`which the lading capacity of the car body,longitudinally of the car on either side of the intermediate oorportion, is increased. The upper edges of the side walls I2 are inturnedto provide longitudinally extending reinforcing beads 2U. The presentcar is designed'for end dumping and one end of the car is provided witha fixed end wall 22 with an upper bead 24, while the opposite end isprovided with a `pivotally mounted end gate 26.

Secured to each end of the bottom B by fasteners 28 are end sills 30,which are preferablyV Z-shaped, the lower flanges 32 of which projectbeyond the body between the side floor portions I6 to provide supportsfor bumper ller blocks 34, While each end of said sills has its lowerilange removed and its web beveled to provide stiffening angles forsupporting the end portions of the side floor portions I6; the anglesbeing secured to said side floor portions b-y rivets or the like. Top,bottom and front bumper plates 36, 38 and 4D, respectively, are securedto the ller blocks 34, the plates 38 projecting rearwardly beyond thewebs of the end sills to define supporting elements for longitudinalbraces or end thrust members 44 riveted to said bottom plate 38 and tothe intermediate floor portion and to the webs of the end sills, asclearly shown in the drawings. It will be apparent that the braces 44tend to absorb any shocks to which the car is subjected and serve tostiien the end portions of the car body.

Extending across the bottom B and along the vertical sides of the bodyare straps 46, while the body is further stiifened by a Z-shaped tie 48arranged substantially midway between the ends of the body across thebottom B thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. As shown in said figures,the Z does not extend along the vertical side walls 0f the body, but forstiifening the body at this point, straps 50 are secured to the sidewalls and have their lower endsv flanged to underlie the side iioorportions I6 adjacent the Z 48 and riveted or otherwise suitably securedto said side floor portions.

- The fixed. end wall 22 Vis' provided with a pair into the lading zoneof the body and have their ends beveled as at 64 (see Fig. 1) andsecurely fastened to the end sills of the body.

To accommodate the wheels, the side floor portions I6 are provided withopenings through which the wheels project, the latter being covered bywheel housings or hoods 66 riveted to the side walls at attachingflanges 68; said hoods having downwardly flanged portions 10 which restagainst the webs 58 of the longitudinal Stiffeners 60 and are fastenedthereto as shown more clearly in Fig'. 4. The wheel housings 66 are alsoconnected as by means of rivets 60 to the side oor portions as shownclearly in Fig. 5. It willv As mentioned before, the axles 2 aresupportedI inA brackets 4. These brackets are provided with attachingportions 12 resting against the webs of the bulb angle stiffeners andsecured thereto by rivets 'I3 or other suitable fastening means.

It is believed that the construction of the car of the present inventionwill be fully apparent to those skilled in the art. The constructionprovides a car having a body resting upon and supported by the caraxles. The utilization of the longitudinal body stiffeners 60 whichproject into the lading zone of the body and which are secured to theupper surface of the car bottom results in a construction having all theadvantages of a car provided with the usual type body sills, but inaddition permits a lower elevation of the side floor portions relativeto the central floor portion thereby obtaining increased lading capacityfor the body. 'The body is -adequately stiffened to withstand serviceconditions due to the provision of the internal longitudinal stiiienersand the reinforced and stiiiened end con` l struction. The longitudinalstiffeners, being bulb angles, offer substantially no obstruction to thedischarge of lading upon end dumping of the car notwithstanding the factthat they project into the lading zone of the car and their connectionto the central floor portion at the juncture of the side floor portionsresults in reinforcing the entire bottom by elements primarily securedor attached to the weaker part of the bottom.

The drawings disclose one embodiment of the invention, but it is to beunderstood that they are for illustrative purposes only and variouschanges in the construction shown may be made within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mine car, a body resting upon and supported directly. by caraxles, saidbody comprising a bottom arranged in a plane above the axlesandhaving an intermediate portion and side oor portions intersecting theplane through the car Wheels, and bottom stiifeners secured to thebottom adjacent the juncture of vthe side floor portions andintermediate portion, said stiffeners extending longitudinally of thebody and projecting into the lading zone thereof.

2. In a mine car, a body, axles on which said body is supported, saidbody comprising a bottom arranged in a plane above the axles and havinga central longitudinally extending floor portion and upwardly' slopingside floor portions on each side thereof, and-longitudinal bottomstiffeners secured to the bottom adjacent the junctures of the sidefloor portions and central floor portion, said stiifeners extending fromend to end of the body and projecting into the lading zone thereof.

' 3. In a mine car, a body comprising side Walls, a fixed end Wall, anend gate pivotally connected to the side walls, and a bottom to whichsaid side Walls and fixed end wall are secured, said bottom including'alongitudinally extending central portion and sloping side floor portionson each side thereof, longitudinally arranged bottom stiffeners securedto the bottom and projecting upwardly into the lading zone of the body,and vertical stiffeners arranged between the xed end wall and saidlongitudinal stiifeners and connected thereto.

- 4. In a mine car, a body comprising side and end Walls, axlessupporting said body, a bottom to which said walls are connected, saidbottom being arranged in a plane above the axles and including alongitudinally extending central floor portion and side floor portionson each side thereof, and bulb angles secured to the bottom andextending from end to end of the body and projecting into the ladingZone. n

5. In a mine car, a body comprising side and end Walls, a bottom towhich said Walls are connected, said bottom including a longitudinallyextending central floor portion and side iioor portions on each sidethereof, and bulb angles secured to the upper surface of the bottom atthe junctures of the side floor portions and central floor portion, saidbulb angles extending longitudinally of the body from end to en-dthereof and projecting into the lading zone.

6. In a mine car, a body comprising side and end Walls and a bottom toWhich said Walls are connected, said bottom having a central floorportion and sloping side floor portions on each side thereof, and bulbangle body stiffeners secured to the upper surface of the bottomadjacent the side floor portions and extending from end to end of thebottom.

7. In a mine car, a body comprising side Walls, end Walls, and aone-piece bottom resting directly upon car axles, and spaced anglestiffeners secured to the upper surface of the bottom on either side ofthe longitudinal center line of the car and extending longitudinally ofsaid car Within the lading Zone of thebody.

8. In a mine car, a body comprising side walls, a fixed end Wall, an endgate, a one-piece bottom to which the side wall and fixed end wall areconnected, said bottom being adapted to rest directlyk upon car axles,bulb angle stiffening members secured to the bottom and extending fromend to en d of the body Within the lading Zone thereof and verticallyarranged stiffeners for the fixed endqwall secured to said Wall and tosaid bulb angle stiifeners.

9. In a mine car, a body having side Walls, end Walls and a bottom, saidbody resting directly upon and being supported by car axles, end sillssecured to the body, longitudinal bottom stii'feners secured to theupper surface of the bottom and extending from end to end thereof withinthe lading Zone of said body, means connecting the stiffeners to the endsills, and vertically arranged stiieners secured to one of said endWalls and said bottom stiffeners.

l0. In a mine car, a body supported directly by and secured to caraxles, said body including a bottom having a centralv portion andsloping side floor portions arranged on each side thereof, said sidefloor portions intersecting the plane of the tops of the car Wheels,longitudinally arranged angle members secured to the upper sur-` face ofthe bottom at the juncture of the side floor portions and centralportion and projecting into the lading zone of the body from end to endthereof, body end sills to which said angle members are secured, a fixedend.' Wall, and vertical Wall stiifening elements secured to said fixedend Wall and to said angle members.

11. In a mine car, wheels, axles on which said wheels are rotatablymounted, and a body, said body including side walls, end walls and aonepiece bottom, the latter including a central p0rtion resting on theaxles and sloping side floor portions intersecting the plane of the topsof the Wheels, internally arranged longitudinally extending bodystiffeners secured to the bottom and projecting into the lading zone ofthe body from end to end thereof, and wheel hoods secured to the sidewalls and to said stiifeners.

12. In a mine car, axles, Wheels rotatable thereon, a body having itsbottom resting on and being supported directly by said axles, and meansfor stiifening the body lengthwise thereof comprising Iangle memberssecured to the upper surface of Vsaid bottom and extending from end toend thereof and projecting into the lading zone of the body.

13. In an end dump mine car, a body comp-rising a bottom, side walls, afixed end wall and an end gate, bulb angles secured to the upper surfaceof the bottom and extending from end to end of the body within thelading zone thereof and vertical members connecting said bulb angles andfixed end Wall.

14. In a mine car, a body having side Walls, end Walls and a bottom,said bottom resting directly upon and being supported by car axles, andlongitudinally arranged body stiffeners secured to the bottomintermediate the side edges thereof and provided with vertical Webswhich project into the lading zone of the body.

15. In a mine car, axles, a body supported by said axles and having sideWalls, end Walls, a bottom and end sills, said bottom being arranged ina plane above the axles, and means for stiffening the body comprisinglongitudinally arranged body stiffeners secured to the bottomintermediate the sid-e edges thereof and-extending between and securedto the end sills, said stiffeners comprising bulb angles, the Webs ofwhich are vertically arranged and project into the. lading zone of thebody substantially from end to end thereof.

16. A mine car comprising a lading holding body including a stationarylading bottom and Wheel recessed side floor portions extendingtherefrom, axles on which said bottom is supported, and longitudinallyextending stiffeners secured to the bottom adjacent the juncture thereofwith the side floor portions, said stiffeners projecting into the ladingzone of the body.

17. In a mine car, a body portion comprising a floor portion, a pair ofspaced. longitudinally extending bulb angles substantially coextensivewith and secured directly upon the upper surface of said floor portion,and Wheel carrying axles below and supporting said'floor portion.

18. In a mine car, a body portion, internally arranged spaced bulb anglesill members arranged therein and extending longitudinally thereof, saidsill members projecting into the lading zone of the body from end to endthereof, and wheel carrying axles arranged below and secured to thebody.

19. In a mine car, a body resting upon and supported directly by caraxles, said body including a bottom arranged in a plane above the axlesand having a central portion and side floor portions on either sidethereof which intersect the plane through the car wheels, and spacedbottom stiffeners secured to the bottom adjacent the side floor portionsand arranged on either side of the longitudinal center line through thebody, said bottom stiffeners projecting into the lading -zonesubstantially from end to end of the body.

20. In a mine car, the combination of wheel axles, a body supported byand resting on the said axles, said body having side walls and a bottom,end sills secured to and supported by the bottom, longitudinal bodystiffeners secured to the bottom within the lading Zone of the body andextending from end to end of the latter on each side of the longitudinalcenter line of said body, bumpers secured -to the end sills, and endstiffeners secured to said end sills and the lower surface of the bottomand arranged longitudinally of the latter.

2l. In a mine car, the combination of wheel axles, a body supported byand resting upon said axles, said body having side walls` and a bottom,end sills secured to and supported by the bottom, spaced bulb angle sillmembers resting upon and secured to the upper surface of the bottom oneach side of the longitudinal center line of the body and projectinginto the lading zone of said body from end to end thereof, bumpers-secured to the end sills, and end thrust members secured to the endsills and the lower surface of the bottom and extending longitudinallyof the latter.

22. In a mine car, wheel axles, a body resting on the wheel axles andcomprising side walls and a bottom, the latter including a central oorportion and side floor portions on each side thereof, body end sillssecured to and supported by the bottom at the ends thereof, bodystiifeners secured to the bottom Within the body and adjacent thejunctures of the central floor portion and side floor portions, saidstiffeners extending longitudinally of the body and projecting into thelading Zone thereof and being secured to the end sills, andlongitudinally extending braces secured to the end sills and the lowersurface of the bottom for resisting end shocks.

the end sills, vertically arranged body end stiffeners secured to theend sill and bottom, said end stiffeners being adapted to absorb endshocks to which the car is subjected, and means connecting the ends ofthe spaced body stiifeners and body end stiffeners.y

24. In a mine car, a body comprising a bottom wall and side walls, axlesfor supporting the body, the bottom wall resting upon said axles,

end sills supported by the bottom, and spacedv body stiifeners arrangedlongitudinally within the body on each side of the longitudinal centerline thereof, and projecting into the lading zone of said bodysubstantially from end to end, said stiieners also functioning as sillmembers and being connected to the end sills.

25. In a mine car, axles, a stationary lading bottom supported by andresting on the axles, an end part including an end sill secured to thelower surface of the bottom, a bumper supported by the end sill, aplurality of spaced vertically arranged diaphragms arranged in the angledefined by the bottom and end sill and connected to said bottom and endsill for absorbing end shocks, and longitudinally arranged bodystiffeners secured to the bottom on each side of the longitudinal centerline of the body and extending from end to end of the latter with theirend portions connected to said diaphragms, said stiffeners serving aslongitudinal sills.

26. In a mine car, a body comprising side and end walls and a bottom,internal longitudinally arranged body stiffeners extending from end toend of the bottom and secured to the upper surface of the latter, abumper element, a Z-bar secured to the lower surface of the bottom towhich the bumper element is secured, said Z-bar functioning as an endsill, and braces secured to the Z-bar and lower surface of the bottomand extending longitudinally of the latter.

27. In a mine car, a body having a bottom ncluding a central oorportion, side floor portions, means for reinforcing the bottomcomprising longitudinally extending stiifening elements secured to thebottom and. projecting into the lading zone of the body, strapsextending across the lower surface of the bottom, end sills to which thebottom is secured, said stiffening elements being secured to said endsills, and a Z- bar stiffener secured to the under surface of the bottomintermediate the straps.

28. In a mine car including a body having a bottom comprising a centraloor portion and side floor portions provided with wheel openings,

wheel axles on which the body is supported, sill members secured to theupper surface of the central floor portion adjacent the side floorportions and projecting into the lading zone of the body, axlesupporting means secured to the sill members, and wheel housings closingsaid openings and secured to the side floor portions and sill members.

29. In a mine car, a car body comprising a floor and end and side wallsextending upwardly from the floor, a. pair of main sills extending fromend to end of the car body in inwardly spaced relation to the sidewalls, said sills being in the form of angle bars having verticallydisposed webs and horizontally disposed webs, and vertically extendingstiffener members secured to the end walls and to the vertical sill webson their sides opposite to their respective horizontal webs.

, HENRY P.v FIELD.

